Chunky Almond Butter Chia Seed Granola

Healthy homemade granola that’s perfect to mix into yogurt, top off your smoothie, or munch on by itself. All you need are a few simple ingredients—old fashion oats, almond butter, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and chia seeds.

My obsession with granola began with my love for yogurt. I kid you not, I eat it every single day. Whether it’s individually packaged 5.3 oz containers of Tillamook or the whooping 32 oz tubs, I plop in some berries, sprinkle granola, and it’s mmmm mmmmm mmmmm from there.

I’m always thinking of ways to make food more nutritious, simple and easy—and that’s how the Chunky Almond Butter Chia Seed Granola was born. I’d read the nutrition labels on granola and try to grab the best one, but even if I approved of the ingredients, I didn’t know how much of each item they used. With this recipe, I know exactly what’s in my granola. It’s up to me if I want organic almond butter or Skippy peanut butter. There’s no more guessing what’s in my morning parfait.

What’s In The Granola

ALMOND BUTTER is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. It’s plump full of healthy fats which are great for cardiovascular health and satiety. When I’m choosing an almond butter, I go for the one with the shortest ingredients list.

CHIA SEEDS are rich in antioxidants and nourish your body with omega-3 fatty acids. They help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Chia seeds are subtle, yet add a little extra texture to the granola.

OLD FASHION OATS are an incredible source of fiber—soluable and insoluable fiber. This means eating oats will not only help your digestive system move everything along, but will keep you feeling fuller, longer. And for a grain, it’s not too bad in the protein department either.

CINNAMON is packed with antioxidants, helping your body fight off a number of symptoms and diseases. One of my favorite things about cinnamon is it’s anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce swelling and inflammation throughout the body.

VANILLA EXTRACT does more than create a pleasant taste. It helps lower cholesterol, improves mental health, and reduces inflammation.

HONEY is a healthy sweetener alternative. Studies have shown replacing sugar with honey can even aid in weight loss. Raw honey can help with allergies because the bees that produce the local honey collect pollen from local flowers. After consuming local honey for awhile, you’ll be less sensitive to the allergies in your area.

Ingredients

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups old fashion oats

1 tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp chia seeds

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F and spray a baking sheet with oil.

In a large bowl, mix together the almond butter and honey. Put it in the microwave for 20 seconds to soften.

Stir in the vanilla until there’s an even consistency.

Add the oats, cinnamon, and chia seeds. Stir until evenly combined.

Dump the mixture onto the baking sheet and evenly spread it out.

Put the pan in the oven for 15 minutes or until the granola is lightly browned.

Take it out and let it cool. Do not stir—this is how you’ll get large granola chunks.